FOWT News, Updates & Posts

27
May

Prophets of Bloom

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A small sampler of Wolf Trap’s blooming trees and shrubs.

The first messenger of Spring is forsythia blooming by bench on a circle {early March}.
It is soon joined by the saucer magnolia.
This spectacle at Usher’s Cabin lasts till late March.
In early April, eastern redbud takes the colorful baton.
All visitors admire the one growing by the gazebo.
By mid April, the dogwoods start blooming all over the place.
The one by the kiosk can hardly be overlooked.
An interesting pink variety grows by Mrs. Shouse’s House.
Even more interesting variety grows by the side entrance of the Filene Center. But this is a late bloomer – for this one you will have to wait till late May.
First wild azaleas show up near the pond in late April.
Soon they take over the whole park.
Sometimes gingerly…
…sometimes with brute force.
My favorite azaleas grow just behind the Fern Cove
(as you follow the creek trail upstream)
But these are late bloomers (mid May).
By this time the ones at the pond are long gone.
When you enter the park in mid May, the first thing you will see at the gazebo path is a bushy green shrub with tiny white flowers, the fly honeysuckle.
Once these turn into berries, robins and cardinals will have a ball.
Next to it – and blooming about two weeks later – is another variety of honeysuckle.
And next to it is one of the imported privets (ligustrum)
Just behind the fly honeysuckle grows one of mock oranges.
It usually blooms one week later.
There is another variety of mock orange just across the path.
In late May, this one displays a veritable explosion of petals.
Some of its garlands have a distinctly Hawaiian feel.
Second half of May brings us another spectacle in the form of Mountain Laurel.
You will find plenty of those around the pond area.
On the bridge side, you can see them high in the tree in huge swarms…
Enticing the insect into its nectar pubs…
…or just hanging in there.
The biggest battery of Mountain Laurel forms a backdrop of the Fern Cove. But you won’t be able to admire them up close and personal because of the boggy terrain.
No worries though, there is a perfectly accessible shrub just a little bit upstream at the South Spur (where the creek enters the park).
Other notable laurels grow by the creek’s exit (just under the North Bench)
By late May, all kinds of brambles are preparing for the berry season…
…including this Pennsylvania blackberry by the entrance to Lot 4.

— honza —

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